Objective To investigate the association of the major histocompatibility complex class Ⅰ chain-related antigens A (MICA)-129 gene polymorphism and soluble MICA (sMICA) levels with ulcerative colitis (UC) in Hubei Han nationality. Methods The genetic polymorphism of MICA-129 was examined using a polymerase chain reaction-sequence based test (PCR-SBT) in 256 UC patients and 460 healthy controls. From the above subjects, 80 patients and 90 healthy individuals were randomly selected for determining serum sMICA concentrations by ELISA. Results The frequencies of variant allele (G) and genotype (GG) in MICA-129 gene were significantly higher in the UC patients than in the controls(76. 8%vs 72. 2%, P =0. 060; 55.9% vs 46. 3% ,P =0. 016). Serum sMICA levels were significantly elevated in the patients compared to the controls[(576. 47 ±279. 02) ng/L vs( 182. 17 ±73. 11 ) ng/L,P ＜0. 001]. In addition, the sMICA levels were higher in the patients carrying MICA-129 GG genotypes than in those carrying ( GA + AA) genotypes [( 638. 87 ± 347. 15 ) ng/L vs ( 507. 51 ± 152. 87 ) ng/L, P = 0. 035].Conclusions The genetic polymorphism of MICA-129 and sMICA levels are correlated with the UC patients in Hubei Han nationality. Our findings demonstrate that MICA-129 gene may contribute to the pathogenesis of UC.

OBJECTIVETo establish an animal model of acute blunt scrotal trauma (BST) and evaluate the types of lesion by conventional ultrasonography (CUS) and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS).

METHODSWe made acute BST models in 21 healthy male New Zealand rabbits by striking 3 - 12 times the unilateral testes randomly selected with a 0. 5 kg iron ball falling freely from a 30 cm height. Then we evaluated the lesion types in the models by CUS and CEUS and verified our evaluation against pathological results.

RESULTSAcute BST models were successfully established in all the 21 animals, including contusion in 10, hematoma in 6, and rupture in 5, all confirmed by pathology. CUS clearly manifested the morphology, internal echoes, and blood flow of the testes, but had a low rate of accurate diagnosis in testicular contusion for over 6 hours as well as in complex lesions. CEUS revealed an earlier perfusion of the contrast agent and shorter arriving time (AT) and time to peak intensity ( TP) in testicular contusion than in the control testes (P <0.05) , but showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the half time of descending peak intensity (P>0.05). For testicular hematoma, contrast agent clearly presented its outline and a delayed low enhancement in the surrounding tissue, with significant differences from the control in AT and TTP. In severe testis rupture, occasional outflow but no perfusion of contrast agent was observed.

CONCLUSIONBST models can be established in rabbits by repeated strikes of the unilateral testes lesion of contrast agent was observed. with a freely falling iron ball. Simple contusion injury can be induced by less than 6 strikes, while complex injuries can be inflicted by more than 10. Combined application of CUS and CEUS can improve the accuracy of diagnosis of different types of lesion.

Acute Disease ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Rabbits ; Scrotum ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries ; Ultrasonography ; Wounds, Nonpenetrating ; diagnostic imaging

Objective:To explore the expressions of miRNAs related to accelerating senescence in serum of the patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), and to clarify their effects in the pathogenesis of aMIC.Methods:The levels of miRNAs related to accelerating senescence (miR-132, miR-193b, miR-130b, miR-20a, miR-296, miR-329 and miR-206) were measured in the serum of the patients with aMCI (aMCI group,n=66) and healthy controls(control group,n=76) using quantitative real-time PCR(qRT-PCR).The genes targeted by the altered miRNAs were predicted by TargetScan 6.0.DAVID was used to analyze the function of miRNA target genes.The serum levels of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and silent in formation regulator 1(SIRT1) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method.Results:The expression levels of miR-206 and miR-132 in serum of the patients in aMCI group were significantly higher than those in control group (P<0.05).BDNF and SIRT1 were both target genes of miR-206 and miR-132.The levels of BDNF (29.50 μg·L-1± 3.13 μg·L-1) and SIRT1 (1.86 μg·L-1± 0.25 μg·L-1) in serum of the patients in aMCI group were both obviously lower than those in control group (BDNF: 32.29 μg·L-1±3.66 μg·L-1;SIRT1: 2.10 μg·L-1± 0.29 μg·L-1, P<0.05).Conclusion:The expression levels of miR-206 and miR-132 in serum of the aMCI patients are significantly up-regulated.Both of them might be involved in the pathogenesis of aMCI through inhibiting the BDNF and SIRT1 expressions.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the risk factors,clinical characteristics and resistance of Staphylococcus aureus nosocomial infections so as to guide the treatment of S.aureus infection.METHODS To collect clinical materials of S.aureus nosocomial infection and analyze risk factors and clinical characteristics and detect sensitivity of isolated strains to antibacterial agents.RESULTS Severe underlying diseases existed among 73 cases of S.aureus nosocomial infections,82.19 percent of patients had received invasive interventions.Lower respiratory tract was the most common infective site.Seventy-nine strains of S.aureus were isolated,including 66 meticillin-resistant S.aureus(MRSA) and 13 meticillin-sensitive S.aureus(MSSA).S.aureus showed general resistance to many kinds of antibiotic drugs.The resistant rates of MRSA were much higher than those of MSSA(P

Gastric adenocarcinoma (GC) is one of the most common malignancies in the world and one of the most frequent causes of cancer-related death.Autophagy is a highly regulated catabolic pathway responsible for the degradation of long-lived proteins and damaged intracellular organelles.However,the mechanism and guiding significance of autophagy in the development and progression of GC have remained to be elucidated.This study aimed to explore the clinicopathological significances and prognostic values of autophagy-related proteins AMBRA1 and Beclin-1 in GC.Quantum dots based immunofluorescence histochemistry (QDs-IHC) was performed to observe the expression of AMBRA1 and Beclin-1 proteins in the tissue rmicroarrays including 163 specimens of GC and 20 noncancerous gastric tissues.Simultaneously,AMBRA1 and Beclin-1 proteins were detected by Western blotting in the 10 fresh GC and corresponding normal gastric tissues.The results showed that the expression levels of both AMBRA1 and Beclin-1 proteins were higher in GC tissues than in noncancerous gastric tissues by QDs-IHC and Western blotting (P＜0.05).High AMBRA1 expression was detected in 90 of 163 (55.2％) GCs and high Beclin-1 expression was detected in 83 of 163 (50.9％) GCs.High AMBRA1 expression was closely related to depth of invasion,and lymph nodes metastasis (P＜0.05).High expression of Beclin-1 protein was correlated with tumor grade (P＜0.05).Positive correlation was observed between AMBRA1 and Beclin-1.Survival analysis indicated the high expression of AMBRA1 and Beclin-1 was an independent factor in predicting poor overall survival (OS) of GC patients.These findings suggest the high expression of AMBRA1 and Beclin-1 proteins is significantly correlated with GC progression.High AMBRA1 and Beclin-1 expression heralds worse outcome of GC patients,suggesting a novel candidate prognostic marker and a therapeutic target for GC.

Objective: To investigate the long-term outcomes of posterior long segment instrumentation and fusion in adult degenerative scoliosis (ADS), and to explore the correlative factors of sagittal imbalance after long segment instrumentation and fusion, and to summarize the impacts of different lowest instrumented vertebra (LIV) on sagittal complication rates. Methods: ADS patients who underwent long segment instrumentation and fusion between January 2008 and January 2014 were retrospectively reviewed and divided into two groups depended on LIV (L ₅ group and S₁ group). The follow-up time was at least five years. Radiographic parameters, Visual Analogue Score (VAS), Oswestry Disability Indexscore(ODI), the 12-item Short Form Health Survey-Physical Component Summary (SF-12 PCS)and sagittal complications were analyzed. And the correlation between sagittal imbalance and sagittal complications were calculated. Patients were divided into two groups(sagittal imbalance group and sagittal balance group) to explore the correlative factors of sagittal imbalance. Results: All of 56 patients were included and evaluated in this study, and 35 cases stopped at L ₅, 21 cases at S₁. The mean follow-up time was 6.6±1.6 years. No significant difference were found in age, gender, follow-up time and surgery method (P>0.05) between two groups. No significant differences were found in Cobb angle(11.8°±7.3° vs 12.6°±6.4°), coronal balance distance(CBD) (0.7±0.6 cm vs 1.0±0.5 cm), sagittal vertebral axis(SVA)(3.0±3.1 cm vs 2.6±5.6 cm), thoracic kyphosis(TK) (21.4°±9.6° vs 22.5°±6.9°), lumbar lordosis(LL) (-32.7°±7.3° vs-34.8°±9.1°), pelvic tilt (PT) (23.4°±9.8° vs 23.3°±8.1°), VAS score(2.0±1.2 vs. 2.2±0.9), ODI score(18.5%±6.4% vs 19.3%±5.2%) and SF-12 PCSscore(45.5±5.2 vs 42.4±7.0) between two groups at final follow-up time(P>0.05). Radiographic parameters including Cobb angle, CBD, SVA and health related quality of life scores including VAS score, ODI score and SF-12 PCS scores were improved significantly at two weeks postoperatively, two-year follow-up time andfinal follow-up time in two groupscompared with those preoperatively (P<0.05). And no significant difference were found in radiographic parameters and health related quality of life scores between those at two years follow-up time and those at final follow-up time; Sagittal complication rates at final follow-up were higher than these at two years follow-up (82.1% vs 33.9%, P=0.000). Sagittal imbalance was related to internal fixation failure in L ₅ group (r=0.691, P=0.011), internal fixation failure in S₁ group (r=0.691, P=0.001) and pseudoarticulation formation (r=0.499, P=0.021). 10 patients in the sagittal imbalance group were with preoperative sagittal imbalance, 9 with preoperative coronal imbalance, 6 with internal fixation failure, 5 with proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK), 4 with adjacent segment degeneration during the follow-up periods, the incidence rates of which were higher than those in the sagittal balance group. LL in the sagittal imbalance group was lower than that in the sagittal balance group at two years follow-up time and final follow-up time. Compared with the sagittal imbalance group, the sagittal balance group achieved a higher SF-12 PCS (45.4±5.1 vs 41.6±7.4, P<0.05) and lower ODI scores (17.8%±6.1% vs 21.5±4.6%, P<0.05), and no significant difference was found in VAS scores between two groups (1.9±1.2 vs 2.4±0.8, P>0.05). The incidence of adjacent segment degeneration in L ₅ group was higher than that in S₁ group (P<0.05) at final follow-up time, and the incidence of pseudojoint in S₁ group was higher than that in L ₅ group (P=0.002) at final follow-up time. Conclusion Posterior long segment instrumentation and fusion for adult degenerative spinal deformity can obtain satisfying long-term clinical outcomes, and postoperative sagittal imbalance was related to preoperative sagittal/coronal imbalance, postoperativeinternal fixation failure, PJK, pseudoarticulation formation and adjacent segment degeneration. Distal fusion at L ₅ or S₁ may lead to high risk of adjacent segment degeneration or pseudoarticulation formation respectively.

Objective To evaluate association of plasma levels of homocysteine, folate and vitamin B12 as well as genetic polymorphisms of homocysteine with ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods Three hundred and ten consecutive patients with UC and 936 healthy controls were recruited.Polymorphisms of methylenetetrahyrdofolate reductase (MTHFR, C677T and A1298C), methionine synthase (MTR) A2756G and methionine synthase reductase (MTRR) A66G were genotyped using PCR-RELP methods. Eighty eight patients and one hundred healthy controls were randomly selected for determination of plasma levels of homocysteine by enzymatic cycling assay, and concentrations of folate and vitamin B12 were measured by corpuscle immune chemiluminescence assay. Results The variant allele and genotype frequencies of MTHFR 1298C, MTR 2756G and MTRR 66G were significantly higher in UC patients than in the healthy controls (P＜0. 01). Moreover, plasma homocysteine level was obviously higher in UC patients than in controls [(21.73±6.59) mmol/L vs(12.47±5.01)mmol/L,P<0.01).Whereas both folate F(11.25±6.19)nmol/L] and vitamin B12 [(322.81±128.47)pmol/L] concentrations were significantly lower in UC patients than in controls [(15.28±7.72)nmol/L and (422.59±129.36)pmol/L,respectively,P<0.01].Logistic analysis revealed that abnormal levels of homocysteine,folate and vitamin B12 were independent risk factors for UC(P<0.01).Conclusions Plasma levels of homocysteine,folate and vitamin B12 as well as the related genetic polymorphisms of homocystein are correlated with UC,which provides a theoretical basis for supplement of folate and vitamin B12 in treatment of UC patients.

Objectives The present study aimed to investigate the associations between genetic polymorphism of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase ( MTHFR) G1793A, plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels, vitamin status and ulcerative colitis ( UC) in a cohort of patients in Hubei Han nationality. Methods Two hundred and ninty-nine UC patients and 764 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were recruited in this study. Polymorphism of MTHFR G1793A was examined using a PCR-RELP method.Plasma levels of Hcy, folate and vitamin B12 were determined by enzymatic cycling assay and corpuscle immune chemiluminescence assay, respectively.Results Both variant allele and genotype frequencies in MTHFR G1793A gene were significantly higher in the UC patients compared to the controls (22.24% vs 14.20% , P<0.001 ;42.81% vs 26.97%, P < 0.001, respectively).Plasma Hcy levels were increased in UC patients compared to the controls [(20.67 ±6.42)mmol/L vs (13.21 ±5.11)mmol/L, P <0.001] while folate and vitamin B12 concentrations were significantly decreased [(11.37±6.34) nmol/L vs (14.89±7.21) nmol/L, P < 0.001; (324.15±127.53 ) pmol/L vs (421.54±128.45 ) pmol/L, P < 0.001, respectively].Furthermore, hyperhomocysteinaemia (HHcy) and folate deficiency were also more prevalent in the UC patients (32.44% vs 25.78% , P = 0.029; 23.41% vs 17.01%, P =0.016, respectively).Conclusions Genetic polymorphism of MTHFR G1793A Wag strongly associated with UC.HHcy,folate deficiency and low vitamin B12 concentration were common phenomena in the UC patients of Hubei Han nationality.Our findings demonstrate that the genes relmed to Hey metabolism may play an important role in the pathogenesis of UC.

Objective To investigate the value of three-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (3D-STI) in assessment of left ventricular (LV) strains. Methods Thirty healthy young adults examined by two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (2D-STI) and 3D-STI. And the results of LV measurements were compared, which included mean peak systolic longitudinal strains, radial strains and circumferential strains. Also, the time consumption of these two methods was compared. Results The time needed for 3D-STI in acquisition and analysis of the images were (309.3±23.4)s, (305.5±11.2)s, while the time for 2D-STI were (490.6±14.4)s, (1261.4±39.9)s. The differences were signiifcant(t=-21.81, 69.94, both P<0.01). The global mean peak systolic radial strains was (48.59±7.68)%by 3D-STI and (33.25±7.27)%by 2D-STI. The difference was signiifcant(t=9.16, P<0.01). The global mean peak systolic longitudinal and circumferential strains were (-17.66±3.14)%, (-17.13±2.29)% by 3D-STI and (-21.35±2.46)%, (-21.97±3.84)% by 2D-STI. The differences were signiifcant(t=5.33, 5.99, both P < 0.01). The 3D-STI strains were different at different levels of LV. The longitudinal, circumferential and radial 3D-STI strains were largest at middle levels. However, 2D-STI strains didn′ t show such trend. Peak strains measured by 3D-STI and 2D-STI showed high inter-observer and intra-observer agreement in Bland-Altman chart. Conclusion 3D-STI is a novel, convenient and reproducible method to evaluate the strains of LV.

Objective To analyse the feasibility of detecting F1 antibody to Yersinia pestis in flushing fluid of heart blood of Rhombomys opimus with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) method and its application value in surveillance of the disease. Methods Serum, flushing fluid of heart blood and infusion fluid of liver and spleen of Rhombomys opimus, which were caught by capture in the plague focus of Zunger basin in 2007, were taken to carry out detection for F1 antibodies to Yersinia pestis with ELISA method. The data were processed with SPSS 17.0. Results Positive rate and average titer of serum were 12.35%(11/162) and 25.35, of flushing fluid of heart blood were 10.49%(17/162) and 23.75 and of the infusion fluid of liver and spleen 6.79%(17/162) and 2240,respectively. No statistical difference was found in positive detection rate when it was compared between serum and flushing fluid of heart blood(χ2 = 1.333, P ＞ 0.05), but it was obviously different between serum and infusion fluid of liver and spleen(χ2 = 7.111, P ＜ 0.01 ) and between flushing fluid of heart blood and infusion fluid of liver and spleen(x2 = 6.250, P ＜ 0.05). There was a significant difference in average titer between serum, flushing fluid of heart blood and infusion fluid of liver and spleen(t = 2.290, 3.612, P ＜ 0.05 or ＜ 0.01 ). The plague F1 antibody positive coincidence rate of serum and flushing fluid of heart blood was 85.0%(17/20), of serum and infusion fluid of liver and spleen was 55.0% (11/20), and of flushing fluid of heart blood and infusion fluid of liver and spleen was 64.7%(11/17). Conclusions The ELISA method can detect Fl antibody in flushing fluid of heart blood,and the method is feasible in plague surveillance.